A Very Weasley Christmas

"Wake up Harry!...Presents," Ron shouted, shaking Harry's shoulder.

When he saw Harry's eyes flicker open, his attention turned back to his own pile of presents. It took Harry a few minutes to come around before he fumbled about on the nightstand for his glasses. He looked over his haul, even though Harry had been receiving Christmas presents for the past five years, he never really could believe it was real.

The room was deadly quite except for the sound of ripping paper as the boys tore into their pile.

"Maroon again!" Ron said under his breath, though still loud enough for Harry to hear. He suppressed a smile as he examined his own Weasley Christmas jumper. It was royal blue with tiny golden snitches dotted all over it. .

"Yours is alright," Ron said with a hint of envy.

Harry smiled widely, "Merry Christmas," he said as he chucked Ron his present.

"Thanks mate." Ron flushed.

Ron fumbled about under his bed before throwing Harry a rather dusty and badly wrapped rectangular parcel.

Harry looked over his lot, the usual Christmas jumper and few dozen mince pies from Mrs Weasley, an eagle feather quill from Hermione, a book, oddly, from Ron, titled "Greatest Seekers of the Twentieth Century," ("thanks," he beamed), a large box of Honeydukes chocolates from Lupin, a Swiss army style tool from Hagrid and best of all, a small bottle of firewhiskey from Sirius with a note attached, "I should be the one to give you your first shot. Don't drink it all at once."

Ron gawped at Harry with his half slightly open when he saw Sirius gift.

"No!…..No way!….I've always wanted to try it." Ron stuttered before looking at Harry thoughtfully. "Can I?"

"Yeah, but we'll save it till later…Er..I'll just hide it for now." Harry said,.

Footsteps weee bounding towards them. Harry slid the bottle underneath and sat on it in what he hoped was a natural looking position.

Ginny stormed into Ron's bedroom like a hurricane of fury.

"Wh-wha' y'doin'?" Ron said still chewing a mince pie.

"You're disgusting. Mum says you both need to get up- breakfast will be done in ten minutes." She glared at Harry. It sometimes scared him how much she reminded him of Mrs Weasley.

"What are you up to?" She said as he tried to avoid her penetrating stare.

"N-nothing," he stuttered.

She continued to stare at him. The only part of her that moved were her eyes as they grew narrower and narrower. She huffed and turned on her heels.

"Whatever," she said before adding in a very Mrs Weasley like tone, "Hurry up!"

"Is it well-hidden?" He whispered when he was sure Ginny was out of earshot.

"Erm…..I think I'll just put it in my trunk…..just in case."

"Yeah, good idea."

Harry stashed the bottle in the sock he wore yesterday, which he hid deep within his trunk.

Ginny had been in charge of decorating the burrow and as such, the whole house was bedecked in pink tinsel inhabited by real fairies that shone silver. Ron threatened to vomit when he first saw it but now he just let out a sigh or inaudible murmur. Harry actually thought that Ginny had done a good job, it was a bit pink and a bit girly but it did feel very festive. Harry's favourite part was the Christmas tree, it was huge, at least 8ft tall and fat. It gave off a heavenly aroma whenever someone brushed past it. Hundreds of silver baubles hung from its branches and a bright glowing star sat on the top.

"Merry Christmas. Are we all hungry." Molly Weasley grinned red-faced from cooking. "Ginny pass out the plates. Fred, George, the cutlery please."

They moaned but did as they were told. Harry took the only empty seat at the already overcrowded table, unfortunately it was next to Percy, Bill, who sat on Harrys right was lost in an argument as he debated England's chances in their next Quidditch match against Australia with his brother, Charlie.

"Merry Christmas, Harry," Percy said holding out his hand for Harry to shake. Harry grasped it awkwardly.

"Yeah, you too." He said , trying to ignore the twins snickering behind him.

Mrs Weasley had cooked up a feast of Bacon, Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, Mushrooms and Toast. Harry didn't quite know how he was going to fit in a Christmas dinner in just a few hours. Harry ate through a second and half of a third helping, on Mrs Weasley's insistence.

Plates empty, the various Weasley's drifted off to do their own thing as Mrs Weasley and a reluctant Ginny prepared the next feast of the day.

Ron raced off up the stairs ahead of Harry. There was a lot of banging as the passed the twins room but he was used to that now. Ron was already stuffing his mouthful of chocolates when Harry entered the room. Harry didn't know how he could do it, after all of that food, He felt sluggish and lethargic.

Harry settled on the camp-bed that had been set up for him in Ron's room. He picked out the book off Ron, lay back and thumbed through the pages.

Ron sat on his bed lining up his old chessmen on the new chessboard his brother, Bill, had given him. He looked lovingly at it, turning and moving it so he could see it at different angles.

Harry turned to chapter six, "Seekers of Hogwarts." He read the first line over and over as his eyes grew heavy and his breathing slowed. The book fell from his hands to his chest with a tiny thud and his glasses were pushed askew across his face as his head lolled to the side. He dreamed of Christmas, Ron and talking bacon.

Harry heard a terrible bang. Were they under attack? His eyes flew open and he jumped his feet, disorientated.

Harry pushed his glasses up his face and the room slowly came into focus. Ron picking up a lamp he had obviously just knocked over.

"Sorry….I tripped…..didn't meant to…" He muttered.

"S'okay." Harry said, a slight hint of annoyance lingered in his voice. "How long was I asleep?"

"Couple of hours, maybe longer. I don't really know." Ron shrugged.

Harry placed his head in his hands and rubbed his eyes. Through a crack between his fingers Harry saw Ron perched on the edge of his bed, a wide grin on his face. He looked as though he wanted to say something.

Harry looked up at him and he just continued to stare..

"What?" Harry said a little impatiently.

The grin on Ron's face grew, somehow, even wider. "Can you believe it."

"Believe what?"

Ron nodded his head toward Harry's trunk. "What Sirius sent you." He was bouncing very slightly on his bed.

"Oh," he hadn't even thought of it after hiding it away. "I know it's a bit strange. I was thinking, maybe it's a practical joke and it's really filled with water or something. 'Cause wouldn't he get in trouble for giving alcohol to a minor."

"I think he's got bigger things to worry about than being charged with giving alcohol to a minor mate. And, well…. No offence mate….but he's always been a but reckless, Sirius, ain't he?"

Harry couldn't help but murmur his agreement. Ron turned to look out of the window as Harry tidied up the mess he had made around the bed. He felt Ron's stare burning on his back for a few minutes before he turned to look at him.

"When are you gonna try it?" Ron said eagerly.

"Oh..erm I don't know…after dinner maybe."

Ron's face fell. "Not before?"

"You should really eat before you drink. Shouldn't you?" Harry shrugged his shoulders

Ron laughed, "Nah, it's not as good then."

Harry considered it and thought, what would Sirius do. He would've had it this morning.

"Okay," Harry nodded, much to Ron's delight. "But one of us should just check around, see what everyone is up to. Make sure that no one is going to come bursting in here again."

Ron nodded.

"You could just casually go downstairs and ask how long dinner will be." Harry hinted

"Oh, so I'm going," Ron groaned and Harry replied with a smile.

It took a while for Ron to return. Harry, meanwhile, had taken the bottle of Firewhiskey from his trunk and placed it on the bedside table between his and Ron's bed, but he quickly snatched at it with his seekers skill and hid it underneath the bedcovers as he heard footsteps coming closer.

The door burst open and Ron fell through.

"Dinner will be done in an hour," he said crossing the room and leaping on his bed. With the eyes of a hawk Ron watched as Harry retrieved the bottle and once again gave it pride of place.

"Are you really gonna have some?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "Are you?"

"Yeah….if I can," his head moving like a nodding dog. "Have you opened it yet?"

Harry shook his head but picked up the bottle and twisted the metal lid, the seal was hard to break but it gave with a crack. He leaned it to smell it. It was very overpowering. Harry winced as soon as it hit his nostrils, instinctively he leaned away from it.

"What's it smell like?"

"Petrol." Harry said truthfully.

"Pet- what's that."

Harry handed over the bottle for him to smell.

"Eurgh! that's vile." Ron winced. "So, who's going first then?"

"You can," Harry offered, not out of kindness.

The bottle hovered over Ron's lips for a few moments before he plucked up the courage to take a large gulp. Coughing and spluttering he passed the bottle to Harry.

Harry didn't take as large a gulp as Ron but he too coughed as he downed it. The liquid burned in his mouth and down his throat. It ached in his shoulders, it felt like the fire was gushing through his body. The pain died as quickly as it started leaving Harry feeling a slight glow inside him. He looked over at Ron who was bright red but grinning with delight.

"It's good ennit." He said

Harry nodded, grinning too. "Do you want a bit more?" He said holding the bottle out to Ron. Ron snatched it out of Harry's hands with glee. Harry drank with a little more courage. It did not burn as much this time but he still felt it coursing through his body. Harry hid the bottle away and they chatted animatedly, both feeling a slight buzz.

Harry noticed Ron was talking a little loudly, especially when he mentioned having another sip. Harry was eager but dinner would be ready soon and he didn't think it was a good idea to show up drunk.

"Food sobers you up. You'll be fine when you tuck into your Turkey, trust me."

Harry gulped from the bottle and passed it over to Ron as the door flew open.

"Aye aye, what's this then?" Fred stood in the doorway with a wide, knowing smile. "George, get up here." He called out into the hallway as Ron protested.

"No, no… Don't," he stuttered before letting out a deep sigh as footsteps came running towards them.

"'Ello, 'ello, 'Ello." George grinned, "What's going on."

"Sirius gave it to him for Christmas," Ron said looking over at Harry.

George looked over at Harry, his eyebrows raised. "Well, I say we can do this the easy way."

"Or the hard way," finished Fred.

"What d'you mean?" Ron said indignantly.

"Either you share," George said waggling his finger.

"Or we tell." Fred added darkly.

"You wouldn't." Ron spat.

"Oh we would." The twins spoke together.

"So what's it to be little brother?" Fred asked.

"Well, it's not mine….. It's Harry's." Ron said weakly.

The twins turned on Harry and gave identical sly smiles.

"Of course you can share," Harry grinned as Ron held out the bottle.

"Mom told us to get you, so we'd better go down." Fred said when he caught his breath and the fire had subsided.

Harry felt giddy as he stood up and it felt as if all of the blood in his body was rushing to his head as he tried to move his legs. Harry clung on to the unstable handrail as he went down the stairs. With a final deep breath he pasted on a smile before entering the dining room, just trying to act as normal as possible. He tripped slightly as he took his seat but it went unnoticed. He turned to Ron next to him.

"You okay," he murmured. Ron nodded, with a false smile that barely concealed his clenched teeth. He was bright red and his stare was fixed on a potted plant on the windowsill.

"Act normal," Harry said under his breath.

Thankfully, Mrs Weasley and Ginny soon entered the dining, massive trays laden with food zooming behind them.

"Merry Christmas everyone." Mrs Weasley beamed as she took her seat. Harry's head was spinning, he wanted nothing more than to take a deep breath but forced himself to keep his breathing controlled. Various bangs emitting from the wizard crackers roused him slightly. Ginny offered to pull her cracker with him, he smiled and did so but not with any effort.

"Would you do me the honour, Mother?" Percy said pompously as he offered his cracker across the table.

Molly went to reach for it with a smile but Fred leaned across and grabbed the end.

"Allow me." Fred said cheerfully.

"We tampered with that one," George whispered quietly to Harry.

Percy looked confused but went along with it.

Percy smiled as he won the bigger half but his eyes grew fearful as he noticed a neon pink spark darting towards him from Fred's half. The spark danced about and exploded millimetres from his nose. As he was about to open his mouth to speak, the fading firework awoke again, exploding into a miniature display of hundreds of colours. With one final bang it burst into bright blue letters spelling out, "HAHA!" And a glittering red tongue sticking out at Percy.

Everyone around the table watched in awe, even Mrs Weasley was unusually cheerful and complimentary.

"Did you two do that?" Bill asked. The twins nodded, proudly.

"I'm impressed," he said.

"Impressed," Percy spat, the shock subsiding. "I'm disgusted. I could have been seriously hurt."

"No you couldn't, Perce." Fred said. "We would never seriously hurt you."

"Injure you slightly maybe." George grinned. "But never seriously hurt you."

Percy looked affronted by the laughing around the table and so for the entire meal, he stared down, darkly, at his plate, occasionally muttering things under his breath.

Ron had said that food would sober him but Harry couldn't help thinking that he was wrong. Just the sight of his Turkey turned his stomach and acid bile rose in his throat as he tried to force down a sprout. Harry felt Mr Weasley's stare on him a few times but Harry ignored him and focused on his food. He played about with it and took the smallest nibbles of food he could, hoping not to rouse any more suspicion.

Ron didn't look too good. He had gone from bright red to deathly white. He stared down dopily, focusing on spearing a sprout with his fork, but he kept missing. The sprout rolled around the plate and Ron stabbed at it with more force. The sprout flew from his plate, across the table and into Mr Weasley's glass of mead, landing with a great splash.

Arthur eyes narrowed as he looked up at his son. Harry flushed and quickly looked back down at the table.

Harry managed to force down half of his dinner but could manage no more despite Mrs Weasley's pleas. His head was spinning faster, banging. The bile burned at the back of his throat as his mouth filled with saliva. He tried to swallow down the urge to vomit.

With a wave of her wand Mrs Weasley cleared the table, and with another, four fat Christmas puddings appeared on the table. Harry helped himself to two bowls and served him and Ron a healthy portion. Mr Weasley was still looking at him but Harry avoided his gaze. Harry poured on custard and handed a bowl to Ron with a nudge.

Ron was bent over and swaying slightly in his chair, he looked asleep. Harry nudged him again but he didn't respond. Desperate, Harry punched him in the leg but that only caused Ron to lean forward even more and fall face first into his pudding, and even that didn't rouse him.

"What have you two been drinking?" Mr Weasley said quietly across the table.

Harry opened his mouth to speak but as he did he could not fight the urge, his hand flew to his mouth. Mr Weasley conjured up a handkerchief and passed it to Harry.

"You two bed now. We'll talk about this later!" He commanded.

Harry didn't know how he had dragged both himself and Ron up the stairs, he couldn't focus and his legs felt like a dead weight. He was out of breath when he reached the top. He let go of Ron and stumbled to his bed. Unable to get up Ron crawled across the room and curled up in a ball on the floor. Harry noticed to bowls had been conjured. Thank you, he thought. He reached out for it and clutched it close to him as the room span ever faster until it finally faded to black.